Concentrated aqueous solutions of the follicular hormone



Patented Mar. 24, 1935 Y warm r NT OFFICE CONCENTR'ATED AQUEOUSSOLUTIONS OF HORMONE THE FOLLI Franz Elger, Basel, Switaerland,aasig'nor to H011- mann-La Roche Inc., Nntley, N.-.1., a corporation ofNew Jersey No Dra. Application April 18, 1935, Serial No. 17,139. InGermany May 17, 1934 2 Claims.

Owing to the exceedingly reduced solubility of the follicular hormone inwater (Zeitschriit fiir Physiologische Chemie, .vol, 223, 1934, P e 149)it has so far been impossible to obtain aque- 5 ous solutions ofsufiicient concentration for injections and for oral administration.

Attempts have been made to remove this obstacle by esteriiying thehormone with di-baslc acids and thus converting it into water-solublesalts. This way of obtaining more concentrated hormone solutions hashowever the disadvantage of requiring chemical reactions.

It has now been found that in a simple manner clear, aqueous solutionsof the follicular hormone 5 of sufiicient concentration for therapeuticuse may be obtained by adding resorclnol to the wa ter used for thesolution. are obtained, which can be filtered and. sterilized withoutdecomposition. By adding other suitable O phenols the dissolvingcapacity of the resorcinol i may be still further increased,

Thus clear solutions Example 0.1 part by weight of the crudecrystallizate of follicular hormone with a titre of about 6 millionsmouse units per gram is shaken: mechanically for several hours with 200parts by weight 5 of an aqueous 15% solution of resorcinol. The smallinsoluble part is removed'by centrifuge and the product then filteredthrough hardened filter paper. A clear solution is obtained with about

